Hot noodle soup is just noodles in hot soup, with a poached egg added by Mr. Ye through a waiter. It also had cabbage, and to Ye Ling, the taste was just average. In her past life, although she didn't have any other special skills, she was quite good at cooking. She never deliberately learned it, just like some people are born to cook delicious food. Her timing and seasoning were always spot on, even with the same method.
Ye Ling was a food lover. She would try making any dish she came across at home, and gradually honed her cooking skills this way.
After freezing for a whole morning in the cold wind, Ye Ling finally warmed up after the hot noodle soup. She moved the egg from her bowl to Grandma Ye's bowl, "Grandma, I can't finish it, you eat it."
The family was poor, but Grandma Ye had always fed Ye Ling eggs since she was little. As soon as the chickens started laying, Ye Ling would have one boiled egg every day. Ye Ling said she didn't want to eat, and Grandma Ye understood, so she ate the egg without saying much.
Ye He Ping only drank some porridge for breakfast, and seeing his mother and daughter eating with such enjoyment, he too felt a bit hungry. But, reluctant to spend more money, he didn't order another bowl. After the meal, the three of them carried their bags onto the bus and headed towards the military compound.
Ye He Ping lived in a two-bedroom, one-living room space less than fifty square meters. At that time, houses were often calculated by net area. The over-fifty-square meters back then equate to more than seventy square meters now. The two-bedroom was quite large, and living on the first floor made it convenient to come and go.
Returning to the compound again, Ye Ling felt that these two lifetime experiences were like yesterday and today. So, at the moment she stepped into the compound, she didn't feel anything special. Everything was just like in her memory. She and her grandma were dressed poorly, and naturally got excluded by the same-aged children in the compound. The only thing different from the past life was she no longer had that petty demeanor, and she didn't walk on eggshells this time.
In her past life, upon entering the compound, Ye Ling felt like she stepped into a new world, looking around recklessly as if she'd never seen the world, which made her look down upon by the kids in the family compound.
Living afresh, it's not about others looking down on her but about earning some dignity for herself. Ye Ling didn't look around this time; she calmly assisted her grandma and followed her father home.
Just like the last life, Ye Ma came out from the building, smiling, and called Grandma more affectionately, "Mom, I'm really sorry, you know how Ye Qian is busy with her dance lessons, so she couldn't come to pick you up. But she's already passed her third level in dancing, and she even won an award at the last competition. You'll have to see her certificate when you're inside."
Ye Ma warmly supported the other arm of Grandma Ye.
Meanwhile, Ye Ling thought her mother was very shrewd; upon meeting, she apologized directly and brought up Ye Qian's accomplishments. What grandparent doesn't like to see their grandchildren succeed, especially someone as good as Grandma Ye?
As expected, just like in the previous life, Grandma Ye was delighted upon hearing this, "Oh, the second girl has made progress. We must properly nurture her. A child with this capability shouldn't be held back."
"Indeed, she kept clamoring not to go to class to come pick you, but I scolded her. I told her if she could achieve something, that would truly make Grandma happy. A little bit of filial piety doesn't matter in a short moment; gaining some pride for the Ye Family is the real deal," Ye Ma said with a stern face.
"That's right, you did the right thing," Ye Ling knew Grandma had fallen for it. Sure enough, she heard Grandma say, "As long as He Ping is picking us up, it's not like he's an outsider, who would bother about such things."
"Mom, you spoil her so, but it was my impatience. Next time, even if she's in a hurry to attend class, she should come to you first. You have been working so hard all these years looking after Lingzi, while He Ping and I were tied here. It always bothers me," Ye Ma's voice softened.
Grandma Ye, seeing her daughter-in-law was not ungrateful, felt a little closer to her, patting the hand on her arm, "You child, if I don't help you look after the kids, who will? Don't say such irrelevant words."
"Mom, thank you for all this hard work," Ye Ma said with a red face, a bit shy.
Grandma Ye was delighted, and the four of them arrived at the house entrance. Ye He Ping, having already changed his shoes, saw his wife coaxing his mother into happiness with just a few words, and he too joined in the cheerfulness.
As for Ye Ling, from beginning to end, Ye Ma didn't look at her much. Moreover, after entering the house, she had no time for Ye Ling, while Ye Qian, waiting at the door, had already sweetly called out to Grandma.
Grandma Ye, although she had raised the older granddaughter since she was little, also liked the sweet-mouthed youngest granddaughter. Seeing how clean and pretty she looked, how could she not adore her?
The Ye Family's conditions weren't good. In the living room, aside from a large wooden chair, there was a square table near the window, which served as the dining table. Ye Ling, forgotten, didn't feel restrained upon entering and casually found a chair to sit down, watching as her parents and sister surrounded Grandma with concern, asking about everything. It wasn't until Ye Qian looked up at Ye Ling and called her sister that the family realized they had overlooked Ye Ling.
Full of affection, Grandma Ye, and slightly embarrassed Ye Ba, while Ye Ma didn't think much of it, laughed and chided, "This child, doesn't even greet anyone upon entering."
Though it sounded affectionate, the nuance shifted the blame of neglect onto Ye Ling.
With her previous life's temperament, Ye Ling would have immediately retorted. Although Grandma would side with her, compared to Ye Qian's obedience and sensibility, Ye Ling would appear willful.
In this life, Ye Ling certainly wouldn't retort like before. However, recalling how in her past life, no matter how she tried, she couldn't get genuine affection from her mother, Ye Ling didn't want to face any coldness willingly this time. So, hearing these words, she only smiled faintly without speaking.
This reaction seemed to give Ye Ma the upper hand, but upon deeper thought
Ye Ling appeared to be the one being wronged, having been away from her parents for so long, and finally meeting with them only to be scolded.
Ye Ma was secretly puzzled. Her eldest daughter was still boisterous during the summer visit. With her staying only a few days, she almost couldn't tolerate it for even a day, yet only after half a year has she already changed?
Ye Ba felt a pang of guilt, "Lingzi, are you tired? I heard from your grandma that you stood all night. Your mom has vacated your sister's room for you; you should take a nap."
Turning his head, he said to his mother beside him, "Mom, you and Lingzi take a nap first."
Grandma Ye nodded, "Then where does the second girl sleep?"
"Ye Qian will stay in the living room. I borrowed a folding bed from someone else," Ye Ba replied.
Ye Qian had already gone to help Grandma Ye, "Grandma, my mom started tidying up last night, even bought you new bed sheets."
Ye Ma walked behind them but kept glancing at the elder daughter.
"Alright, alright." Grandma Ye patted the younger granddaughter's hand and called Ye Ling over, "Lingzi, are you tired? Come over and have a look."
Ye Ling responded with a smile, following behind. In her heart, she didn't really care. Saying they vacated the room for them was just because Ye Qian didn't like sharing a room with her anyway. They couldn't let the elder stay in the living room, so Ye Qian moved to the living room. If not for what Ye Qian told her during her deathbed in the last life, Ye Ling wouldn't have known how much she was disliked by the good and sensible, always-seemed-like-a-good-sister Ye Qian.
Hence, when facing Ye Qian's friendly and innocent facade in this life, Ye Ling only found it pretentious. Unaware, she was already displaying contempt for Ye Qian on her face
, but Ye Ma, secretly watching the elder daughter, noticed.
Ye Ma's heart sank, realizing once again that old habits die hard—still the same. No longer concerned with the eldest daughter, she devoted herself entirely to coaxing her mother-in-law. [Regarding "The Supporting Female Character is Reborn" extras, updates will be irregular]